Down with Vegetables! Vegetarian, vegan, or omnivore? Choosing Health.

About 6 months ago I was perusing my online reviews, because you should do that every once in a while, and I came across a review that skewed my stats with a 1 star out of 5. This happens. You can’t be right for everyone, and given my blunt nature, I’m bound to disappoint here and there. But the content of this one threw me.

“Do not see Dr Brody if you are a vegetarian or vegan.
She actively campaigns against this lifestyle.”

It went downhill from there. Fast.

My first thought was “Whaaaaaaa?!!!” And my second, once I realized who had written it was “Oh, dang, I blew that one, big time.”

Beyond the amusing mental image of plastering anti-vegetarianism propaganda all over electrical poles in Portland, this review has given me a great deal to ponder. And I’m grateful for it. Am I really against the idea of being a vegetarian? I mean, I was vegan for years. I get it. I’ve lived it. I even opened a vegan restaurant called the Common Sense Café with my husband at the time (no, you can’t look it up, it was 1995 and the venture didn’t even outlast the marriage, which itself you could have missed if you blinked.)

Here’s how I got to where I currently stand on nutrition:

I initially became vegetarian after a meal my freshman year in college. A high school girlfriend was visiting from her own college and we were at a Friendlies restaurant. I ordered a cheeseburger. She scoffed in that way that only a newly minted college freshman scoffs “you mean a fleshburger?” I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. When my meal arrived I couldn’t eat it. I took the burger off of the square, grilled bread and put it under a napkin. I didn’t eat meat again for well over a decade.

I personally flew my veggie (and then vegan) flag on the following platform:

Over time it became clear that being vegan wasn’t right for my body (although honestly I wish it had been, will get to that later.) I was overweight, tired, and in a constant state of disturbed digestion. I will admit now that starting to eat meat was one of the hardest things I’ve done, psychologically, in my life. I had to take a long hard look at my values and beliefs.

4. Vegetarians on the whole are not more likely to be healthier (or thinner) than meat eaters who eat a whole foods diet including heaps of veggies.
5. Vegetarian diets are healthier than diets built around crappy meat but there are many situations (including my own) where a diet including meat is the healthier choice.
6. Meat comes from dead animals. If we care about animals, it is important for those of us who eat meat to acknowledge that and be honest with ourselves about where our food is coming from. To be honest with ourselves about how the animals they are eating were both raised, and slaughtered. To be honest with ourselves about whether they believe in, and are comfortable with, the idea of the food chain. And children should understand where meat comes from and it is no small thing to take a life for our own benefit.

So yes, I personally eat meat now. But only meat that I know has come from animals on small farms, from animals that have not been tortured. I eat grass fed and grass finished beef. I buy my meat in bulk directly from farms where I can, and from stores and restaurants who ethically source their meat. I consider myself lucky to live in Portland where this is quite easy to do. If I felt well on a vegetarian diet (no dairy of course), or even a pescatarian diet, I would do it in a heartbeat.

But also, I have to admit that yes, I do believe that most people do better with more protein. In particular, people with certain health issues do better with more protein: fatigue, blood-sugar issues, anxiety, mood swings, PMS, and many others.

In the end, my decades of experience in private practice combined with my ethics as a physician dictates a responsibility to recommend a higher protein diet to those who I believe would be served by this approach. I’m honest with my patients, perhaps to a fault. I don’t recall the details, nor would it be appropriate for me to go into in any case, but I am confident that if I pushed this patient it was because I had a strong belief that either eliminating soy and gluten protein, adding animal protein, or both would dramatically change her health for the better.

Does that make me an anti-vegetarian crusader? No, actually. It’s the opposite. I support, 100%, those who choose not to eat meat for ethical reasons. This, in my mind, trumps feeling better if, and only if, that person puts the choice not to eat meat at the top of their own values list. And that is the individual’s choice, period. From that place, I have had hundreds of vegetarian patients over the years. Some have become omnivores or flexitarians, and some have remained vegan or vegetarian. I support them all and will continue to serve them with honesty and integrity- actively campaigning for their choices to line up with their own individual health goals, values and desires.

This website is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for individualized medical or professional advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your personal physician regarding the applicability of any information on this site.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

1. Promotion Description: The ‘Speed Vitamix’ (“Sweepstakes”) begins on 09/15/2016 at 12:00 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) and ends on 10/10/2016 at 12:00 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) (the “Promotion Period”). By participating in the Sweepstakes, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Dr Samantha Brody (“Sponsor”), which shall be final and binding in all respects. Sponsor is responsible for the collection, submission or processing of Entries and the overall administration of the giveaway. Entrants should look solely to Sponsor with any questions, comments or problems related to the Sweepstakes.

2. Eligibility: Open to legal residents of USA who are Minimum required age of entry 18 years old. or older. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, retailers, sales representatives, advertising and promotion agencies and each of their respective officers, directors and employees (collectively, the “Promotion Entities”), and members of their immediate families and/or persons living in the same household as such persons, are ineligible to enter the Sweepstakes or win a prize.

3. Winner Selection: The winner of the Sweepstakes will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible Entries received throughout the Promotion Period. The random drawing will be conducted by 6 days by Sponsor or its designated representatives, whose decisions are final. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible Entries received. Winner will be notified by email at the email address provided in the Entry Information on or about 6 days after the random drawing. Potential winner must accept a prize by email as directed by Sponsor within 48 hours of notification. Any winner notification not responded to or returned as undeliverable may result in prize forfeiture. The potential prize winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and release of liability, and a Publicity Release (collectively “the Prize Claim Documents”). No substitution or transfer of a prize is permitted except by Sponsor.

Only one prize per person and per household will be awarded. Gift cards and gift certificates are subject to the terms and conditions of the issuer. Prizes cannot be transferred, redeemed for cash or substituted by winner. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to award a substitute prize of equal or greater value if a prize described in these Official Rules is unavailable or cannot be awarded, in whole or in part, for any reason. The ARV of the prize represents Sponsor’s good faith determination. That determination is final and binding and cannot be appealed. If the actual value of the prize turns out to be less than the stated ARV, the difference will not be awarded in cash. Sponsor makes no representation or warranty concerning the appearance, safety or performance of any prize awarded. Restrictions, conditions, and limitations may apply. Sponsor will not replace any lost or stolen prize items.

Prize will only be awarded and/or delivered to addresses within USA. All federal, state and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. Failure to comply with the Official Rules will result in forfeiture of the prize.

5. Online Entry: Enter the Sweepstakes during the Promotion Period online by signing into the entry form and perform the tasks provided. The entry form can be found on the following website at www.DrSamantha.com/Stress-Survey.

Automated or robotic Entries submitted by individuals or organizations will be disqualified. Internet entry must be made by the entrant. Any attempt by an entrant to obtain more than the stated number of Entries by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations, logins or any other methods, including, but not limited to, commercial contest/sweepstakes subscription notification and/or entering services, will void that entrant’s Entries and that entrant may be disqualified. Final eligibility for the award of any prize is subject to eligibility verification as set forth below. All Entries must be posted by the end of the Promotion Period in order to participate. Sponsor’s database clock will be the official time keeper for this Sweepstakes.

6. Privacy: All entrants acknowledge that if they are chosen as a winner, certain of their personally identifying information may be disclosed to third parties at least as required by law, including, without limitation, on a winner’s list. All personal information submitted as part of the Sweepstakes may be shared by and between the Promotion Entities, and each of the Promotion Entities will use such information in accordance with their respective independent online privacy policies. The privacy policy of Dr Samantha Brody can be found at

7. Limitation of Liability: Sponsor is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes or by any technical or human error, which may occur in the processing of submissions in the Sweepstakes. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any misdirected or lost mail, or any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay of operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, Entries. Sponsor is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of email or players on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website or combination thereof, including injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating downloading materials in the Sweepstakes. If, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, then Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes. In such event, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, perform the random drawing from among all eligible Entries received prior to or after such cancellation, suspension, or modification.

In the event of a dispute concerning who registered online to participate in the Sweepstakes, the registration will be declared to have been made by the authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an internet provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, education institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. A potential winner may be requested to provide Sponsor with proof that the potential winner is the authorized account holder of the email address. If a dispute cannot be resolved to Sponsor’s satisfaction, the entry will be deemed ineligible.

8. Winner’s List: To obtain a copy of any legally required winners list or a copy of the Official Rules, send the applicable request and a self-addresses, stamped, #10 envelope to Dr Samantha Brody cc: Speed Vitamix at 6610 SW Capitol Hwy PDX OR 97239. Request must be received no later than 6 days + 6 MONTHS for the name of the winner and, by the end of the promotion, for a copy of the rules.

10. Rafflecopter Disclaimer: If you wish to have extra entries via sharing or social media, promotion is powered by Rafflecopter. Metric Feat LLC (“Rafflecopter”) does not sponsor, administer or endorse this promotion. By entering this promotion, Participants agree to Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy (http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/privacy/). For technical information about the Rafflecopter widget, please visit http://blog.rafflecopter.com/2012/08/anatomy-rafflecopter-giveaway/.

11. Facebook Disclaimer: Entrants should understand that they are providing their information to the Sponsor and not to Facebook. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook.

12. OTHER

It's time to feel better...now!

Learn a new way to take control of your health with my stress 2.0 video workshop. Enter your email below for FREE instant access.

Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.

Add more energy to your life every day.

Get 7 days of energy-infusing practices delivered to your inbox, FREE!

Add more energy to your life every day.

Get my most recommended energy-infusion practices delivered to your inbox, one a day for 7 days, FREE!